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Amitabh Bachchan has stepped into an ongoing row wherein industry heads, economists and rating agencies have panned the UPA government for the slow economic growth in India – this was before the announcement of a rash of 'reforms' issued when it became clear that the sovereign ratings will be downgraded.

Bachchan arrived here with his family yesterday for the shooting of Prakash Jha's upcoming film 'Satyagraha', has expressed concern over the slow growth in rural India.

"The rural and village India still totters, and it is depressing to see them suffer. Many examples of those that do, one has encountered on KBC. But they are minuscule," Bachchan wrote on his blog.

At the same time he has praised India's progress after the opening of the economy. "Airports, highways, hotels of great calibre, housing... all becoming a part of interior India. An India that stands on the threshold of huge progress and development," the actor wrote.

"The opening up of the economy has brought in huge benefits of investment from the Western world, and infrastructure and many other factors have become responsible for this growth."

Amitabh arrived here yesterday along with wife Jaya Bachchan, son Abhishek, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan and grand-daughter Aradhya and from the airport, the family drove to Jaya's mother Indira Bhaduri's place in the posh Shyamla Hills area.

Referring to the new generation, Amitabh said, "Also the new generation that is now taking decisions and forming the psyche of the nation is young - perhaps all born after the liberalisation of the economy. The youth is projected to be the largest young brigade in the world! They have not lived or experienced the elements that we went through. They are enthused and aggressive in their search for their ultimate destination."

Stating that it is the youth of the country who werecalling shots, the Big B said in his blog, "... They are deciding the culture, the films, the clothing, music, opinion, politics, morals of this country on the move. If we do not respect them they have the capacity to over run us by the strength of their sheer numbers.

"At the same time if we give them good guidance, education, opportunities, they will and do possess the brilliance to follow the paths that would be beneficial. They need to be understood and they need to be channelled! And they will be of benefit...of this I am certain... for there is one very major factor in favour...they passionately care and love India!!"

Big B, who landed at the Bhopal's Raja Bhoj International Airport here yesterday, also praised the new Bhopal Airport saying that "it resembles a space craft."

"The new airport at Bhopal...a spanking new facility, which resembles a space craft, is a revelation for me. When I first came to the city in 1973 soon after marriage to Jaya, the place was just a vacant isolated cottage like airport, and an airfield that could only take small range propeller aircraft. and now..." he wrote.